How to help children separated from parents through 'zero tolerance' immigration policy

President Donald Trump said the United States will not be a "refugee holding facility" on his watch.
USA TODAY

Manuel De Vegas Rivera, 29, brushes his daughter Linsey Victoria Rivera's hair as they wait for a family member to buy them a bus ticket after being released by U.S. Immigration officials May 7 at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen.(Photo11: Casey Jackson/Caller-Times)

Here are some Texas-based charities offering assistance to immigrant families currently being detained.

Verify charities before giving

Before giving to any charity, it is recommended to make sure and verify that a charity is real and determine how your donations will be used. Some sites to help verify charities are Charity Navigator, GuideStar. Another way to verify a charity is the database provided by the Better Business Bureau, Give.org.

Migrant Families Relief Fund

The El Paso Community Foundation said it has created the Migrant Families Relief Fund to aid local groups that are helping immigrant families.

Donations will help provide for basic needs, shelter and legal services. In a news release, the foundation said all credit card and administrative fees will be waived, with 100 percent of the donations going to provide direct services.

Donations will be distributed to:

Diocesan Migrant & Refugee Services to provide direct legal services to immigrant children who have been separated from their families.

Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center to help with legal services for asylum-seeking parents separated from their families.

Annunciation House, which provides shelter for immigrants.

Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee, which helps pay immigration bonds so immigrants can be released from detention, and helps them reunite with their families.

Donations can be made at epcf.org/families.

RAICES: Family Reunification and Bond Fund

Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, or RAICES, provides "immigration-related legal services, advocacy and opportunities for educational and social support," according to the organization's website. RAICES is currently raising funds via their "Family Reunification and Bond Fund." According to the agency's website, the fund is to "directly support legal services for detained separated parents and the direct funding for bonds to get parents released." If you wish to donate to RAICES, you can do so at: https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/bondfund

Catholic Charities

Catholic Charities USA's mission is to "provide service to people in need, to advocate for justice in social structures and to call the entire church and other people of good will to do the same," according to its website. One of the ministries is Immigration & Refugee Services, which provides "a wide range of social and legal services that help them get established in the community," though there is not currently an active campaign for funds to assist parents and children being separated at the border. In a news release issued June 15, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities, Sister Donna Markham, urged U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen to "stop separating migrant families at the border."

ACLU Foundation

The American Civil Liberties Union works to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States, according to its website. There is not a current active campaign to raise funds specifically for children and parents separated at the border, but among the tenets of the ACLU is "safeguarding the rights of refugees and immigrants." The agency is a four-star charity according to Charity Navigator. If you wish to donate to the ACLU, you can do so at: https://www.aclu.org/donate-aclu

Texas Civil Rights Project

The Texas Civil Rights Project is made up of Texas lawyers "serving the movement for equality and justice in and out of the courts," according to its website. The organization submitted an Emergency Request for Precautionary Measures with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on the behalf of five families. If you would like to donate, you can do so at: https://texascivilrightsproject.org/families-belong-together-donate

There are also additional ways to assist the Texas Civil Rights Project. Volunteers who speak Spanish, Mam, Q'eqchi' or K'iche' and have paralegal or legal assistant experience can help take declarations from families affected by separation. If you can assist, you can register to volunteer at: https://texascivilrightsproject.org/keepfamiliestogether-volunteer/

Call your elected officials

You can also call your U.S. senator or representative and let your voice be heard on upcoming legislation regarding family separation at the border. To find your senator, visit: https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm. To find your representative, visit: https://www.house.gov/representatives.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Genin Rodas, 29, and his son Edison Rodas, 5, from Honduras, embrace each other they wait for a family member to buy them a bus ticket after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Rodas and his son were separated for four days as they were held in a detention facility by U.S. Border Patrol. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

A man browses through a packet he was given after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Sister Norma Pimentel, executive director of Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley, speaks with men as they wait to call their families after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Sister Norma Pimentel (right), Executive director of Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley, explains paperwork to a man and his son after they were released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Families watch a movie as they wait for buses after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Volunteers help families after they are released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Manuel De Vegas Rivera, 29, brushes his daughter Linsey Victoria Rivera's hair as they wait for a family member to buy them a bus ticket after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grand Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Families sleep on padded mats after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grand Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Families watch a movie as they wait for buses after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

Pedro Ismael Cruz, 31, kisses his son Pedro Emanuel Cruz Chirinoz, 3, as they wait for a family member to buy them a bus ticket after being released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times

A man checks a bag with his belongings after released by U.S. Immigration officials on Thursday, May 7, 2018, at the Catholic Charities Rio Grande Valley refugee center in McAllen, Texas. Casey Jackson/Caller-Times